News

The ECHL's Pensacola Ice Pilots were the 'AA' affiliate of the Rockford IceHogs in 2007-08.

06/23/2008 3:25 PM - PRINCETON, N.J. – The ECHL announced Monday that membership of the Pensacola Ice Pilots has been terminated effective immediately.

The Ice Pilots were the "AA" developmental affiliate of the Rockford IceHogs and Chicago Blackhawks. Five players (Mike Brodeur, Steve Marr, Adam Hobson, Adam Berti and J.C. Sawyer) skated for both the IceHogs and Ice Pilots during Rockford's inaugural AHL season.

Those Ice Pilots skaters who are under a Chicago Blackhawks contract will remain within the farm system and will be relocated to a team to be determined at a later date. All Pensacola players not playing under a Chicago Blackhawks contract will immediately become unrestricted free agents.

“On behalf of the ECHL we are very disappointed both for the Ice Pilots fans as well as the other member teams of the ECHL,” said ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna.

The termination of membership comes as a result of the Pensacola ownership group notifying the ECHL that it did not intend to play in 2008-09 or any season thereafter. Failure to put together a team is grounds for automatic termination under the ECHL Bylaws.